Method of making sheet-metal wheels



W. R. STINE METHOD OF MAKING SHEET METAL WHEELS Jan. 8, 1929.

2 Sheets-Sheet- Filed April 12, 1923 FIG. 4

INVENTOR, W

,X/vwo d 4 A TTQRNEY Jan.8,l929. W. R. STINE METHOD OF MAKING SHEETMETAL WHEELS Filed pril 2, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORI WW6? J Iwwmd/dw 44 ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 8, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAYTON STEEL FOUNDRY COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

METHOD OF MAKING SHEET-METAL WHEELS.

Application filed April 12, 1923. Serial No. 631,734.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in sheet metalwheels, and has particular reference to pressed or rolled steel wheelshaving the hub, rim and intermediate parts integral.

It is the principal object of my invention to provide a strong, durableand compact wheel which may be economically made from a single blank ofsteel or other suitable metal by different pressing or rollingopgrations.

The invention essentially consistsin constructing the wheel from a blankof sheet metal, preferably steel, by different operations, with a viewto reducing the cost of manufacture of the wheel as well as lighteninand strengthening its structure.

Tn the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal, sectional viewthrough a metal blank, showing the hub partly drawn in a preliminaryforming operation. Figure 2 is a longitudinal, sectional view takenthrough the blank on the line 2-2 of Figure 11 after the spokes and rimare half formed. Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line3-3 of Figure 2, showing a spoke half formed. Figure 4 is alongitudinal, sectional View taken through the wheel, showing the hub,spokes and rim fully formed. Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken onthe line 55 of Figure 4, showing a closed-in spoke. Figure 6 is alongitudinal, sectional view taken through the wheel, showing a hubbushing inserted therein. Figure 7 is a cross sectional view taken onthe blank of metal,

line 77 of Figure 6, showing one means of connecting the free ends of aformed spoke. Figure 8 is a longitudinal, sectional view taken through awheel having a hub, rim and an intermediate disc ortion-formed from asingle blank of metal. Figure 9 is a 1ongitudlnal, sectional view takenthrough the same after the top of its hub portion has been turned downagainst the intermediate disc portion of the wheel. Figure 10 is apartial side view of a wheel formed as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9.Figure 11 is a partial side view of the spoke wheel partly formed. AndFigure 12 is a full side view of the finished spoke wheel.

Throughout the specification and drawings, similar reference charactersdenote corresponding parts.

Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1designates a preferably steel, which'has been subjected to a preliminarstamping, or a rolling operation, to part y draw the hub portion 2 ofthe wheel, although any other part of the latter may be first formed ifdesired. Figure 2 shows how the hub portion 2 and the spokes 3 are halfformed after a second operation has been performed upon the blank. Thenext forming operation to which the blank is subjected, closes in andforms the spokes 3 and the rim 4, each spoke becoming a split ring incross section as shown in Figure 5.

In order that sutficient metal may be available to fully form the spokes3 and the rim 4 at the seams 5 shown in dotted lines in Figure 12, therim isformed with corrugations 6 for expansion, under the force of thebending operation to which the blank is subjected, to yield suflicientmetal to fully close in the spoke and rim portions at. the scams 5. SeeFigures 2, 11 and 12.)

After the wheel structure has been formed as just described, a bottomflanged T member 7 is inserted between the free ends of the spokeportions 3 and welded thereto for the purpose of forming a tightconnection between said ends as shown in Figure 7. However, any othersuitable form of connecting means may be employed if desired.

A hub member 8 having an annular flange 9 formed around its lowerexterior portion to receive the lower end of the hub portion 2 of theblank 1, is inserted in said hollow hub portion. The member 8 has anupper web portion 10 which is suitably connected to the upper portionsof the inner ends of the spokes 3, thereby completing the wheelstructure.

My metal wheel may also be stamped or rolled from a single blank ofmetal, to the shape shown in Figure 8. In this instance the entire hub11, which is integral with the intermediate portion 12 of the wheel,projects a 'suflicient distance beyond said intermediate portion to beturned inwardly against it as shown in Figure 9. The intermediateportion 12 is made in disc form, as shown in Figure 10. The rim portion13 is formed integral with the intermediate disc portion 12 of thewheel, and since the hub 11 of the latter is also integral with theintermediate portion, the entire wheel becomes one which is entirelymade of a single blank of meta I do not wish to be limited to thedetails of and described, and any changes or modifications may be madetherein within the scope of the sub oined claims.

Having described m invention, I claim:

1. The herein descri ed process of making a vehicle wheel from a sheetof metal, which consists in forming ahub part, a rim part andintermediate integral spoke portions, the rim part being formed withcorrugations be-. tweenthe spoke portions for expansion to providesuflicient metal to completely form the spoke portions and the rim attheir meeting points.

2. The herein described process of making a. vehicle wheel from a singlesheet metal, which consists first in bending the metal sheet to partlydraw the hub part, then half formmg the hub and the spoke portions andthen closing in the blank to form the spokes in the shape of a split rinin cross section.

3. The herein descri ed process of making a vehicle wheel from a singlesheet metal, which consists first in bending the metal sheet to partlydraw the hub part, then half forming the hub and. the spoke portions,then closing in the blank to form the spokesvin the shape of a splitring in cross section, then inserting a member between the free edges ofthe spoke portions and then welding it to them.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day of April,1923.

WALLACE R. STINE.

